Serum Institute clarifies vaccine prices: Initially the vaccine was cheaper due to advance funding, private hospitals will get a limited amount

New delhi date. April 24, 2021, Saturday

On the one hand, the central government has announced that from May 1, all people above the age of 18 will be vaccinated against corona. On the other hand, the prices of the vaccine have been announced by the Serum Institute of Pune, which manufactures the Covishield vaccine. The issue is currently under controversy. Corona vaccine will be available to private hospitals at a price of Rs 600 as announced by the Serum Institute. The question now is why the Serum Institute gives India the most expensive vaccine in the world.

Now the Serum Institute has clarified this by issuing a statement. The Serum Institute said private hospitals would be given a limited amount of vaccines. The company said that despite selling at Rs 600, the vaccine costs less than other treatments.

The company said governments are buying vaccines at much lower prices in ongoing vaccination campaigns around the world, including in India. It is wrong to compare vaccines in the international market and in India. Initially the cost of vaccines was kept very low as many countries took the risk of advance funding for vaccine formulation and research.

Even today, Covishield is the cheapest corona vaccine in the world, the company said. The current situation is very challenging. The virus is constantly mutating and people's lives are in danger. Given this uncertainty, we will need funding to increase and expand production. So that we can fight this epidemic to the best of our ability.